Battle game and method of playing

ABSTRACT

A battle game having four game piece types assigned to each of two players, each game piece having distinct movement abilities and opponent game piece capturing abilities on a game board comprised of a plurality of tiles within two starting areas, a neutral area and two goal tiles.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The claimed subject matter relates to a battle game. In particular, the presently described battle game comprises a playing board, various pieces for player movement of different degrees and rules of play. The battle game playing board includes at least two player home areas, a neutral area and at least two goal or victory areas. Game pieces move and capture other game pieces according to a hierarchy of power and movement ability according to, in one embodiment, the relative size and shape of the game piece. The object of the game is to advance a game piece to a victory area or eliminate the other player's most important game piece.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A battle game for at least two players is disclosed according to the embodiments of the invention. The game comprising a game board having a plurality of adjoining geometrical game piece spaces, comprising a first player starting region, a second player starting region, and two goal spaces and at least four distinct game pieces, each assigned a distinct movement range of a maximum number of continuous game piece spaces, wherein the distinct movement range of a first of the at least four distinct game pieces is a maximum of one of the continuous game piece spaces, and wherein the distinct movement range of a second of the at least four distinct game pieces is a maximum of three of the continuous game piece spaces.

The distinct movement range of a third of the at least four distinct game pieces is a maximum of four of the continuous game piece spaces and the distinct movement range of a fourth of the at least four distinct game pieces is a maximum of five of the continuous game piece spaces.

In one embodiment, each of the at least four distinct game pieces is ranked according to a distinct capturing capability. The battle game board comprises a first exterior ring of game piece spaces of the first starting region and a second exterior ring of game piece spaces of the second starting region. The battle game board further comprises a first interior ring of game piece spaces within the first exterior ring and a second interior ring of game pieces within the second exterior ring. The game board also includes the two goal spaces are game piece spaces located outside of the first starting region and the second starting region. In an embodiment, each of the at least four distinct game pieces is ranked according to distinct movement capability.

A method of playing a battle game for at least two players having a plurality of first player game pieces and a plurality of second player game pieces is disclosed. The method of play comprises in one embodiment of the game arranging on a game board comprising a plurality of game piece spaces:

a plurality of a first player first ranked game pieces within a first starting region exterior ring comprised of the game piece spaces, a plurality of a second player first ranked game pieces within a second starting region exterior ring comprised of the game piece spaces, a plurality of a first player second ranked game pieces and a first player third ranked game pieces within a first starting region interior ring comprised of the game piece spaces within the first starting region exterior ring, a plurality of a second player second ranked game pieces and a second player third ranked game pieces within a second starting region interior ring comprised of the game piece spaces within the second starting region exterior ring and a first player fourth ranked game piece on the game piece space within the first interior ring and a second player fourth ranked game piece on the game piece space within the second interior ring.

In an embodiment, the method of playing the game starts with advancing a first of the plurality of the first player game pieces according to a movement capability and capturing capability assigned to the advanced first player game piece, then advancing a first of the plurality of the second player game pieces according to a movement capability and capturing capability assigned to the advanced second player game piece, then advancing a second of the plurality of the first player game pieces according to a movement capability and capturing capability assigned to the advanced first player game piece, and advancing a second of the plurality of the second player game pieces according to a movement capability and capturing capability assigned to the advanced second player game piece.

According to an embodiment of the method of playing the battle game the first player has four types of the first player game pieces and the second player has four types of the second player game pieces. The first player starts the game with six of the first of the four types of the first player game pieces and the second player starts the game with six of the first of the four types of the second player game pieces. Also, the first player starts the game with three of the second of the four types of the first player game pieces and the second player starts the game with three of the second of the four types of the second player game pieces. The first player also starts the game with three of the third of the four types of the first player game pieces and the second player starts the game with three of the third of the four types of the second player game pieces. In addition, the first player starts the game with one of the fourth of the four types of the first player game pieces and the second player starts the game with one of the fourth of the four types of the second player game pieces.

According to an embodiment of the method of playing the game, the first type of first player game pieces and second player game pieces moves only one game piece spaces per a player turn and captures any of the other player game piece that occupies the game piece space landed upon by the first type of game piece at the end of the player turn. The second type of first player game pieces and second player game pieces moves up to and including three game piece spaces per a player turn and captures any of the other player game piece that occupies the game piece space landed upon by the second type of game piece at the end of the player turn and is removed from the game if capturing the first type of game piece. The third type of first player game pieces and the second player game pieces moves up to and including four game piece spaces per a player turn and captures any of the other player game piece except the first type of player game piece that occupies the game piece space landed upon by the third type of game piece at the end of the player turn and is removed from the game if capturing the second type of game piece. The fourth type of first player game pieces and second player game pieces moves up to and including five game piece spaces per a player turn and captures only the fourth type of the other player game piece that occupies the game piece space landed upon by the fourth type of game piece at the end of the player turn.

According to an embodiment, the game ends by moving any of the first player game pieces or the second player game pieces into one of two goal game piece spaces with those game pieces of one player remaining in the two goal game piece spaces at the start of that player's turn. The game also ends by one player capturing the fourth type of the other player's game piece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a game board of the presently described battle game according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 provides front and perspective views of game pieces of the presently described battle game according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a game board and arrangement of game pieces to start play of the presently described battle game according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS

Before undertaking the detailed description below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used in connection to the disclosed exemplary embodiments: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like.

Although the subject matter of this application has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications and combinations of the illustrative embodiments as well as other embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description. It is, therefore, intended that the appended claims encompass any such modifications or embodiments. The general processes and systems described herein may be modified heavily depending on a number of factors, with rearrangement and/or addition/deletion of steps anticipated by the scope of the present disclosure. Integration of this and other preferred exemplary embodiment methods in conjunction with a variety of preferred exemplary embodiment systems described herein is anticipated by the overall scope of the presently disclosed system.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a game board of the presently described battle game according to an embodiment of the invention. The presently described battle game comprises game board 100. In one embodiment, game board 100 is comprised of a plurality of tiles or game board spaces 101. Game board spaces 101 can be hexagonally shaped as shown or be of any other shape. The hexagonal shape of game board spaces 101 interlock so as to form an extended honeycomb arrangement that comprises the playing area of game board 100. Game board spaces 101 can be of uniform size or be of various sizes, with distinct game board spaces of more significance sized differently. As depicted, game board spaces 101 are of uniform size.

Game board 100 includes first starting area 102 for a first player's game pieces of the and a second starting area 104 for a second player's game pieces. Each player's game pieces are arranged within the respective starting area according to the game rules, as will be described. Between first starting area 102 and second starting area 104 is neutral area 106. Neutral area 106 is described as such because at the start of play of the battle game, no player piece occupies a space in neutral area 106. Once play begins, player pieces are free to move about neutral area 106 a well as within either starting area 102 and 104.

On game board 100, tiles comprising first starting area 102, second starting area 104 and neutral area 106 can be distinguished on an area by area basis by color, shading, texturing, ornamentation or the like of tiles of an area. In one embodiment, first starting area 102, second starting area 104 and neutral area 106 are distinguishable from each other based on different colors of tiles comprising each area.

Within neutral zone 106 are victory tiles 108 and 110. Victory tiles are distinguishable form other tiles 101 on game board 100 by color, shading, texturing, ornamentation or the like. As will be described through the rules of play, one of the ways in which a player wins the battle game is to have that player's game piece occupy both victory tiles 108 and 110 at the start of that player's turn. In one embodiment, each victory tile 108 and 110 is surrounded by other game board spaces.

In one embodiment, each of first starting area 102 and second starting area 104 is comprised of nineteen hexagonally shaped tiles 101. Neutral area 106 includes fifteen tiles 101, including the victory tiles 108 and 110. Other arrangements are contemplated in rule adaptations that include more game pieces to start the game.

FIG. 2 provides front and perspective views of game pieces of the presently described battle game according to an embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, each player of the battle game has four distinct game pieces, each permitted to move across a maximum number of tiles 101 in a single turn and each able to capture or be captured by an opposing game piece. “Capture” refers to removal of that game piece from the game board and from play.

The presently described battle game includes four game pieces used by each player. As shown in FIG. 2 , first game piece 202, second game piece 204, third game piece 206 and fourth game piece 208 are distinct sculpture-like pieces used by each player. The size and shape of each piece denotes the movability of that piece. That is, each of the four game pieces has its own moving parameters. Also, each piece advances and captures other pieces according to its parameters. In one embodiment, first game piece 202 is spherical, second game piece 204 is triangular, third game piece 206 is square and fourth game piece 208 is pentagonal. Also, fourth game piece 208 is taller than third game piece 206, which is taller than second game piece 204, which is taller than first game piece 202. Each of first player game piece 202, 204, 206 and 208 includes a top section 212, 214, 216 and 218 and base 222, 224, 226 and 228, respectively. The presently described battle game and game pieces, however, are not limited in this manner. Any combination of shapes, colors, relational heights and the like can be employed to distinguish one type of piece from the other. Optionally, the base of each game piece shares the size and shape of game board tile 101.

Each player of one embodiment of the battle game has an equal number of pieces to start the game, but with each side's pieces designated a uniform color in order to differentiate one team from the other.

FIG. 3 a top view of a game board and arrangement of game pieces to start play of the presently described battle game according to an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 3 , game board 100 as described includes first starting area 102 and second starting area 104. First player game pieces 202, 204, 206 and 208 for a first player as described in FIG. 2 , are arranged as shown within first game area 102. As shown, a player starts the game with six of first game pieces 202. First game pieces 202 are arranged one piece on every other tile 101 about the perimeter of first starting area 102. This perimeter or outer ring of tiles 100 comprises twelve tiles 101. As shown, every other tile 101 around the perimeter of first starting area 102 is occupied by, in one embodiment, by round first game pieces 102.

Next, second game pieces 204 are arranged within the inner ring of first starting area 102 residing within the outer ring occupied by first game pieces 202. In one embodiment, a player starts the game with three second game pieces 204. Within the inner ring of six tiles are situated the three second game pieces 204. If the inner ring is akin to a clock, then the three second game pieces 204 are placed at tiles at twelve o'clock, four o'clock and eight o'clock at the start of play.

Similarly, three third game pieces 206 are arranged in the remaining three tiles 101 within the inner ring of first starting area 102. Again, if the inner ring is akin to a clock, then the three third game pieces 206 are arranged at two o'clock, six o'clock and ten o'clock.

At the center of the inner ring and first starting area 102 is one tile 101 on which the single fourth game piece 208 is placed. In total, each player starts the game with thirteen game pieces arranged as shown in FIG. 3 . The tiles 101 within first starting area 102 and second starting area 104 optionally include a key indicative of a game piece's starting position. In one embodiment, if first game piece 202 is round, second game piece 204 is triangular, third game piece 206 is square and fourth game piece 208 is pentagonal, then an image of each respective shape is placed within the appropriate tile 101 denoting the proper starting tile for each piece. Image placement in this manner has no other significance during game play but is for ease of game set up.

A second player starts the presently described battle game with second player game pieces 242, 244, 246 and 248 in the same positions within second starting area 104 as described with respect to the game pieces 202, 204, 206 and 208 placed within first starting area 102. The size and shape of second player game pieces 242, 244, 246 and 248 in one embodiment replicate those of first player game pieces 202, 204, 206 and 208, but are of a different color to differentiate teams. Once first player game pieces and second player game pieces are arranged to start play as described and shown in FIG. 3 , the battle game starts according to the rules of play.

The movement and capturing ability of each game piece according to one embodiment of the presently described battle game is now described with respect to a first player game pieces 202, 204, 206 and 208. Second game pieces 242, 244, 246 and 248 move and capture in the same manner. For illustrative purposes, first game piece 202 is referred to as “circular”, second game piece as “triangular”, third game piece as “square” and fourth game piece as “pentagonal”. These labels are for ease of discussion and are by no means limiting. Circular piece 202 can only move one tile 101 per player turn in any direction. If circular piece 202 moves into or lands on a tile 101 occupied by any other game piece, then circular piece 202 captures this other game piece and this other game piece is removed from the game, including the second player circular piece 242.

Triangular piece 204 can move in any direction up to and including three consecutive tiles 101, provided there is no game piece in its path. In other words, triangular piece 204 cannot “jump” other pieces. Triangular piece 204 captures other pieces by moving into a tile occupied by another piece. However, first player's triangular piece 204 moves into a space occupied by the second's circular piece 242, then the first player's triangular game piece 204 and second player's circular piece 242 are both removed from play. If, on the other hand, first player's triangular game piece 204 lands on a tile occupied by second player's triangular piece 244, square piece 246 or pentagonal piece 248, that second player's piece is removed but first player's triangular piece 204 remains in play. In other words, the “cost” of first player's triangular piece 204 capturing the second's circular piece 242 is the first's triangular piece 204.

Square piece 206 can move up to and including four consecutive tiles 101 in one turn, provided there are no other game pieces in its path. In other words, square piece 206 cannot “jump” tiles or move through an occupied tile 101. All game pieces must stop on an occupied tile 101 or avoid it by stopping short of it. Square piece 206 cannot attack an opponent's circular piece 242 and, thus, cannot occupy a tile 101 on which circular piece 242 sits. But square piece 206 can attack an opponent's triangular piece 244. But if square piece 206 attacks the opponent's triangular piece 244, the attacking square piece 206 and the opponent's triangular piece 244 are both removed from play. Otherwise, if square piece 206 attacks the opponent's square piece 246 or pentagonal piece 248, it remains in play.

Pentagonal piece 208 can move up to and including five consecutive tiles 101 in one turn, provided there are no other game pieces in its path. In other words, pentagonal piece 206 cannot “jump” tiles or move through an occupied tile 101. Pentagonal piece 206 can only attack the opponent's pentagonal piece 248 by occupying the tile 101 on which the opposing pentagonal piece 248 sits. If an opponent's pentagonal piece 248 is captured by pentagonal piece 208, the game ends and the attacking player wins.

To begin play, one player moves a game piece first. The selection of who moves first is based on any method chosen by the player, such as a coin flip. Or, if one side's pieces are colored red, then the game convention can be that red always starts. On the first move, a player may move a game piece according to the movement parameters described above. A first player move can capture an opponent's piece by occupying a tile. Or the first player's move may simply end by coming to rest on an unoccupied tile. A player can capture the opponent's game piece regardless of where the opponent's piece is located on the board.

Once a first player completes a turn by moving a game piece according to the movement rules as described, the second player takes a turn. Likewise, the second player moves a game piece according to the movement rules, either capturing an opposing piece or allowing its piece to come to rest in an unoccupied tile.

The object of the presently described battle game is to either capture the opponents fourth (pentagonal) game piece 208, 248 or for one player to occupy both victory tiles 108 and 110 at the start of that player's turn. That is, if the first player ends a turn with one of his or her pieces on each of victory times 108 and 110, the second player has one last turn to capture one of the first player's pieces so occupying a victory time 108 or 110. If the second player is unable to capture one of the pieces occupying the victory tiles 108 and 110, or capture the opponent's pentagonal fourth piece 208 on that turn, then the game is over and the first player wins. Note that on that final turn the second player need not herself occupy one of victory tiles 108 or 110, only remove the first player's piece from one of the tiles. For example, the second player's “triangle” piece may be sacrificed to remove the first player's “circular” piece from a victory tile to avoid losing. After such a move, one of the victory tiles will be vacant.

The rules of the presently described battle game according to the embodiments are couched in terms of the first player pieces attacking the second player pieces. The movements and capturing parameters also apply from the perspective of the second player pieces attacking the first player, as well as movements that result in occupation of victory tiles 108 and 110.

The above summary is not intended as an exhaustive description of the claimed subject matter but, rather, is intended to provide a brief overview of some of the functionality associated therewith. Other systems, methods, functionality, features and advantages of the claimed subject matter will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. Although various embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the present system is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the spirit of the system as set forth and defined herein. 

I claim:
 1. A battle game for at least two players, comprising: a game board having a plurality of adjoining geometrical game piece spaces, comprising a first player starting region, a second player starting region, and two goal spaces; and at least four distinct game pieces, each assigned a distinct movement range of a maximum number of continuous game piece spaces, wherein the distinct movement range of a first of the at least four distinct game pieces is a maximum of one of the continuous game piece spaces, wherein the distinct movement range of a second of the at least four distinct game pieces is a maximum of three of the continuous game piece spaces, wherein the distinct movement range of a third of the at least four distinct game pieces is a maximum of four of the continuous game piece spaces, wherein the distinct movement range of a fourth of the at least four distinct game pieces is a maximum of five of the continuous game piece spaces.
 2. The battle game of claim 1, wherein each of the at least four distinct game pieces is ranked according to a distinct capturing capability.
 3. The battle game of claim 1, further comprising a first exterior ring of game piece spaces of the first starting region and a second exterior ring of game piece spaces of the second starting region.
 4. The battle game of claim 3, further comprising a first interior ring of game piece spaces within the first exterior ring and a second interior ring of game pieces within the second exterior ring.
 5. The battle game of claim 1, wherein the two goal spaces are game piece spaces located outside of the first starting region and the second starting region.
 6. The battle game of claim 1, wherein each of the at least four distinct game pieces is ranked according to distinct movement capability.
 7. A method of playing a battle game for at least two players having a plurality of first player game pieces and a plurality of second player game pieces, comprising: arranging on a game board comprising a plurality of game piece spaces: a plurality of a first player first ranked game pieces within a first starting region exterior ring comprised of the game piece spaces; a plurality of a second player first ranked game pieces within a second starting region exterior ring comprised of the game piece spaces; a plurality of a first player second ranked game pieces and a first player third ranked game pieces within a first starting region interior ring comprised of the game piece spaces within the first starting region exterior ring; a plurality of a second player second ranked game pieces and a second player third ranked game pieces within a second starting region interior ring comprised of the game piece spaces within the second starting region exterior ring; a first player fourth ranked game piece on the game piece space within the first interior ring; and a second player fourth ranked game piece on the game piece space within the second interior ring; advancing a first of the plurality of the first player game pieces according to a movement capability and capturing capability assigned to the advanced first player game piece; advancing a first of the plurality of the second player game pieces according to a movement capability and capturing capability assigned to the advanced second player game piece; advancing a second of the plurality of the first player game pieces according to a movement capability and capturing capability assigned to the advanced first player game piece; and advancing a second of the plurality of the second player game pieces according to a movement capability and capturing capability assigned to the advanced second player game piece.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first player has four types of the first player game pieces and the second player has four types of the second player game pieces.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first player starts the game with six of the first of the four types of the first player game pieces and the second player starts the game with six of the first of the four types of the second player game pieces.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first player starts the game with three of the second of the four types of the first player game pieces and the second player starts the game with three of the second of the four types of the second player game pieces.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first player starts the game with three of the third of the four types of the first player game pieces and the second player starts the game with three of the third of the four types of the second player game pieces.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first player starts the game with one of the fourth of the four types of the first player game pieces and the second player starts the game with one of the fourth of the four types of the second player game pieces.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first type of first player game pieces and second player game pieces moves only one game piece spaces per a player turn and captures any of the other player game piece that occupies the game piece space landed upon by the first type of game piece at the end of the player turn.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second type of first player game pieces and second player game pieces moves up to and including three game piece spaces per a player turn and captures any of the other player game piece that occupies the game piece space landed upon by the second type of game piece at the end of the player turn and is removed from the game if capturing the first type of game piece.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the third type of first player game pieces and the second player game pieces moves up to and including four game piece spaces per a player turn and captures any of the other player game piece except the first type of player game piece that occupies the game piece space landed upon by the third type of game piece at the end of the player turn and is removed from the game if capturing the second type of game piece.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the fourth type of first player game pieces and second player game pieces moves up to and including five game piece spaces per a player turn and captures only the fourth type of the other player game piece that occupies the game piece space landed upon by the fourth type of game piece at the end of the player turn.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: moving any of the first player game pieces or the second player game pieces into one of two goal game piece space, wherein the game ends when at the start of the first player turn or the second player turn the game pieces of the first player or the second player occupy both of the two goal game piece spaces.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising: capturing by any of the four types of first player game pieces or the four types of the second player game piece the fourth type of player game piece of the other to end the game. 